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June 7, 1932.

E. s. cHAPlN ET AL PROCESS FORv TREATING AND AGING FABRICS 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 18 I ga BY E. S; CHAPIN ET AL PROCESS FOR TRE-TING AND AGING FABRICS 2 sheets-sheet 2 June 7, .1932.

qFil-acl June 18, 1930 A INVENTRS. A 50W/7K0. S. CNHP/A/ THEN? ATTOR EYS.

IIIFII y or mixtures of said materials.

suchY as celanese, require during aging, an

Patented Junel 7, 1932 I UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE EDWARD S. CHAPN, OF PAW'TUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, AND ARELI H. JACOBY, OF ASHBY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO THE DELTEX COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS PROCESS FOR TREA'l-ING` AND `AGING FABRICS Application filled June 18,1930. Serial No. 462,047.

' This invention relates generally to the treatment of fabrics composed of various materials, such as cotton, silk, rayon, Wool Some fabrics atmosphere of steam that is less moist than others. Our improvements permit adapting an ager for eicient treatment of such fabrics as well as for those previously mentioned. 'It is particularly applicable to the treatment of fabrics where an agingt action through a reduction of the dyes is desired. It especially relates to the treatment of fabrics having thereon vat color prints or dyes and to discharge prints or other fabrics where the conversiony of the dyes or chemicals used in printing or dyeing, into xed patterns and uniform colors is necessary. The invention relates particularly to the process of 20 aging wherein -a substantially closed chamber is supplied with an atmosphere of steam which excludes air and particularly oxygen so that the organic dyes are converted into the leuco bases.

most universallyr encountered in aging vat color prints b v the usual steam process, have been described and certain steps and appai'atus forjovercoming such diiiiculties and objections have been setforth and claimed in the prior patents to R. W. Jacoby, No. 1.663.845 and Xo. 1,663,846, issued March 2T. 192,8.

Generally speaking, the present invention Incident to this supply of moist vapors A the points -where the generationof excess heat is greater than elsewhere. is the circuy lation necessary to be produced in 'order to remove the vapors which have to a greater or Difficulties and objections which wereal? less extent absorbed the excess heat generated. In the prior patents of E. S. Chapin and A.v H. Jacoby No. 1,738,946 and No. 1,738,947 issued December 10, 1929, certain devices and means are described for producing a greater circulationof the vapors at such points.

These improvements are all of value in connection with the present inventions as are also aprons that are similar in function to those described and claimed in Patents No. 1,663,845 and No. 1,663,846 above mentioned.v That is to say, the use of the present aprons enables the water and moist steam vapors to ybe employed and evenly distributed Within the ager` without the disadvantage of spottinmthe yprints or fabric.

iatenis No. 1,738,946 and No. 1,738,947 describe in detail various steps and devices which have been found to be very great advances in the art of aging fabrics and set forth as far as was then possible the causes of certain rises in temperature due to the generation of excess heat which occurs during the aging process. Said patents also describe and claim improvements which have been found to provide definite and valuable l In theusual process of aging, the aging1 chamber is supplied with an atmosphere of steam which excludes air `and particularly oxygen so that the organic dyes are reduced tothe leuco bases.' This treatment with steam constitutes what. is known as the aging and duringithe aging process considerable heat is 'producedby various chemical and physical actions and reactions occurring within the ager.

The leuco bases are water soluble and therefore canl be absorbed by the fibersy ofthe fabric. After the aging process is completed. the dyes are iixed in the `fibres of the fabricbiv oxidationthroughfincidental contactwith the oxygen of the airpand vby treatment with water solutions of soap, etc. This oxidation causes the dyes again to becomeinsoluble and results in exceedingly fast colors: l `f In the use of the usual aging apparatus, it

.,has been found impossible to maintain the te'mperature at desired points throughout the agerto carry out the aging process entirely densed upon the fabric as it passes through the apparatus, chemical reactions resulting from the reduction of the dyes, heating coils yintended to maintain the desiredtemperature, steam chests used to prevent condensation, and the heating of the rolls and other metallic parts which tend to absorb and then radiate heat.

The present application involves improvements in the process and apparatus for aging fabrics whereby the temperatures and the degrees of moisture required at various points within an aging chamber are most accurately controlled so that a control permits with greater efficiency the aging of a great iva riety of fabrics and a great variety of different designs which require the various kinds and quantitiesmf dyes In fact the control has been carried to such an extent by the improvements to be set forth in the present application ,that temperature time cards taken at various points in an ager show that the temperature can be maintained at all points in the a er while the aging is taking place so as to be very uniform throughout the entire day and such temperatures may be controlled accurately and at will within one or two degrees of the most eflicient temperature required for the particular goods and dyes being treated.

The aprons described and illustrated in Patents Nos. 1,663,845 and 1,663,846 enabled water to be introduced between the runs of the the fabric at points where the generation of objectionable high temperatures have occurred, and enabled the steam which had become superheated by the reactions of the dyes and the fabric, to absorb moisture and thereby increase the moisture content of the steam. This principle is availed 4of in the present improvements but certain additions have been made which increase the efliciency of the aprons and permit greater control of the temperature and of the moisture content.

It will be realized that when steam is to anyconsiderable extent superheated it tends to rise in accordance with well known physical laws. This causes the superheated steam to accumulate between the runs of fabric beneath the rolls and in the upper portion of the ager.

Owing to the close proximity of adjacent runs of fabric passing about rolls in the lower portion of an ager, circulation is in-` adequate and pockets are formed from which the heat generated does not ordinarily rise and is therefore not dissipated or removed without the use of the special arrangements of our apparatus.

It is therefore one 'object of the present invention to supply not only water, but so to preserve the moisture content of the steam at suchpoints that the temperature will not be raised to an undesirable degree and also may be controlled at will to produce the most eflicient aging action at various points Within the ager, dependingk upon the local conditions which may exist therein.

The giving-off ofheat variesto a large extent according to whether the fabric is heavy or light, whether one or more strings are run or whether the -pattern requires greater or less quantities of dyes, that is, it

varies with the weight of the fabric and with the coverage and depth of the color of the pattern. The heat-producing reaction due to the fabric itself takes place independently ofthe dyes and is an important factor in the treatment of fabrics passing through an ager. This reaction ta'kes place during the conversion of the dyes into Atheir leuco bases.

These conditions establish the necessity of accurate control of the character of thesteam formin the vapor in which the aging takes place. he character of this steam involves several factors which must be considered to produce an aging action in :the most efficient manner. These factors may be enumerated as follows:

a The quantity of the steam; b The temperature of the steam; c) The amount of moisture carriedby the steam;

(d) The points at which the steam is applied to the fabric; and l (e) The tim du-ring which the steam is allowed to act upon the fabric.` l

, The subject matter of this application relates to all of these factors, and especially to the factors (c) and (d) concerning the amount ofmoisture carried by the steam, at points where excess heat is generated, whereby the heat is neutralized, absorbed and d1ssipated to produce Aproper conversion or reduction at such points.

The last time element (e) is also an important factor in aging. Generally up to a certain period of time the color value of the dyes is increased, while for shorter or longer time the color value is lessened. This consideratio'n obviously involves the question of maximum production for one or more aging 1- units and a y determination 'of the. maximum speed of the fabric through the ager consistent with high color value and minimuln cost for dyes.

In most instances of the treatment of vat color prints the original organic dyes are made into a paste form by mixing with them hydrosulphite of soda, caustic soda and a thickening material, such as starch, dextrine, gum arabic, etc. yfter the fabric is printed by suitable engraved copper rolls or otherwise, it is'dried and passed into the chamber known as an ager comprising rolls over which the fabric passes in successive vertical runs.

Ordinarily, when the goods were finally washed after aging, the operation was usually accompanied, in different degrees, by the washing away of a considerable quantity of the dyestuif which had not become fixed in or on the fabric. This was true in some finstances to the extent that practically of the dyestuff was lost through ineiiicient reduction and oxidation. The dyestuifs used in the printing of fabrics are, asl is well known, comparatively expensive organic materials and the reduction in the cost thereof is an important factor in the total cost of treating the goods, and, natually, when aocomplished, ultimately permits a greater return on the price per yard of the finished product. One of the important results of our process is therefore a more complete and efficient use of dyestuifs because in the final washingvery little, if any, of the original dyeing material is wasted.

As will be appreciated by those familiar l with the art of aging fabrics, the laging process is carried out upon a great variety of goods, particularly as to the weight of the fabric and the amount of the'dye applied thereto. The heavier fabrics/having the coloring dyes applied thereto in considerable quantity or in relatively heavy coatings, naturally develop considerably more heat in the aging process than do lighter fabrics having lighter coatings of the dyeing material applied thereto.

Furthermore, diferent coloring matters in materials produce different amounts of heat which are generated during the aging process. It thus becomes necessary in the aging of various fabrics to control the action of the heat generated so that it will not become so high as to interfere withthe subsequent actions as the process proceeds.`

Not only should the heat generated be re moved from the vicinity of the fabric as rapidly as possible` but the steam subsequently supplied to act further upon the dyes and the fabric to cont-inne the reactions should be so provided as to quantity and quality that the conditions within the ager may at all points be maintained under the best conditions to produce the desired result.

One of the objects of the present invenisting.

tion is, therefore, to produce an improved process by means of which the fabric being aged may be treated uniformly and efliciently without involving the usual disadvantages heretofore experienced resulting from the presence of an undesirable amount of heat vor too great or too small an amount of moisture. We have found in most instances that when steam is supplied to the aging apparatus through the usual means, such as taking directly from a boiler or other steam generator used for driving a steam engine or turbine, the reduction of the pressure by reducing valves before entering the ager causes the steam to enter the ager in too dry a condition, and its quantity and quality are not such as are suitable to give uniform and efficient results because of the superheated condition of the steam.

This is also true of steam which has been taken from a boiler such as above mentioned and allowed to expand in anexpansion chamber, although owing to the radiation from such an expansion chamber, the amount of moisture contained in the steam may be greater than that when direct steam is used. This method, in certain instances, has, howi ever, been found to produce better results in the ager than the use of steam direct from a boiler.

A third source of steam is the exhaust from a'steam power generator, such as a steam turbine. In this case, some of the heat has been extracted from the steam Vby reason of the power developed in the generator or turbine 100 therefore, for a given amount of steam, the pressure is, somewhat lower and the steam more moist. l

' It is clear, however, that the steam which is introduced into the ager at various points must be of the right quantity as well as of the right quality as regards temperature and degree of moisture to produce the best effects in any particular ager, depending upon the kind of goods being treated or the amount of no dye materials thereon.

As a result of our researches and experiments, we have found that the steam when passed through an ager in comparatively larger quantities than generally used from a source having a low pressure is best adapted to produce the desired results.

This is particularly true if the action of the steam be permitted to continue for a considerable time beyond that usually considered necessary under the conditions formerly ex- The quantity of such steam has been determined by flow meters, and by the use of such meters it hasl been found that at least 1800-2000 lbs. of such steam perhour pref erably should be used.

As far as we are at present advised, no apparatus has yet Abeen devised to determine through -any other form of indicator the steam after it has been introduced into an aging apparatus and the best available indicator for the conditions of the heat existing within the aging apparatus'is the thermometer, these thermometers being placed at various places so as to indicate the temperatures at various points. lVe have found contrary to the usual practice, that it isnecessary and essential so to locate thermometers that the temperatures between the runs of the fabric at various points within the apparatus may be accurately determined, particularly in the central longitudinal zone where the highest temperatures usually occur. We have found that when the quantity and quality of the steam have been correctly adjusted by controlling the supply, the temperature within the ager at such points ordinarily should be about'2l5o, although in some cases, depending vupon the nature of the fabric and the printing, it may be somewhat higher or lower than those temperatures.

lVe have also found that the initial reactions atthe forward end of the aging apparatus produce the greater amount of heat, and, therefore, especial attention is necessary to prevent abnormal rising in temperature at that part of the aging apparatus.

It is therefore particularly desirable to produce a somewhat more rapid circulation of the vapors at certain points and then to remove or exhaust them so that vapor containing the excess heat developed may be rapidly displaced and its place taken by more moist vapors, as set forth in our prior patents above mentioned. x

In the general commercial use of form'er agers, as employed in the cloth printing industry, it has been found that the depth of the color produced varies to a considerable extent. Thus when the ager was first started, the resultant color was considerably deeper than that secured after the ager had been run for several hours. Not only this, but in the course of a days run the color value would go off and this might even occur during the course of a single run.

The definite cause of such conditions was practically unknown prior to our researches and the result was that at times a considerable percentage of the finished goods had to be discarded or sold as an inferior product or seconds. p

Through the use of our improved process and apparatus the certainty in the color value of the printed fabric produced has been greatly increased and we have been enabled to produce a fabric in which any defects that may occur do not result from the treatment during aging, but are due to other conditions which mayahave existed during the actual printing or during other treatments not connected with the aging process or apparatus.

Owing to this fact, which results from the definite condition of the quantityand quality of the steam' which is present within the ager, we have been able to produce great regularity in the process.

Furthermore, the product is practically uniform and of greater depth of color per unit of dye or other coloring substance than has heretofore been possible to obtain.

In addition to these results as to uniformity and depth of color, and the reduction in the amount of defective goods, we have been able to accomplish another result which is of great importance in the practical industry of print- A ing and producing vat color prints-that is,

the reduction in the quantity of dyestuifs employed,

Some of the advantages above stated may be accomplished by the use of our inventions without any substantial increase in the time required for treating the fabrics, as we have found thatmaterial may be aged, if desired, in substantially the same time as required in the old or previous aging apparatus, and with greatly improved results.

The following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings sets forth a preferred form of process and apparatus in whichthe present improvements are embodied and involve certain improvements over the devices and processes of said prior patents.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of an improved ager constructed substantially in` laccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, showing more` especially the pipe connections;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one of the aprons indicated in Fig. 3, showing the relative positions of the water .and steam pipes; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the device as shown in Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale, showing the details of the water and steam supply pipes;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the right hand lower portion of the ager as shown in Fig. 3, and indicating the pipe connections;

Fig. 7 is a. partial view of the screen located in the lower portion of the ager, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the piping connections adjacent the mixing chamber.

y Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a casing of sheet material, which forms the body of the ager, and which is covered with a suitable heat insulating material 2, to prevent the escape of heat. t the upper left-hand side of the ager is anfopening 3 through which the cloth may enter and emerge from the interior of the ager. The

opening 3 is provided with means to suck away the steam which would tend to be discharged through said opening, said means preferably comprising a fan or other form of suction device 4, having a pipe 5 vleading from the interior of horizontal hood 6, ad-

` jacent the opening 3 through which the cloth and emerging from the Y of moisture from the steam in the ager, thereby preventing drops of water falling on the fabric being treated. l

The interior of the ager is vprovided with two series of rolls 8 and 8', over which the cloth to be aged passes successively in substantially parallel runs, after entering through the opening 3, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Rolls 9 are provided to support the fabric as it returns toward said opening 3.

A'wire mesh or similar screen 10, having .substantially the same length and width as the interior of the ager, is positioned below the lower series of rolls 8', so as to prevent the goods being treated in the ager from being spattered by drops produced in the interior of the ager by the iniowing steam. The screen 10 also serves to distribute the infiowing steam throughout the ager.

The bottom of the ager is provided with a plurality of drain pipes 11, as shown, through which the water of condensation in the ager. etc. may be dischairged.

The arrangement of piping for supplyingI steam under the proper conditions of niemperature. pressure and moisture content will now be described. In the drawings the numeral 12 indicates the main steam supply pipe through which steam from a suitable source of supply Hows. The pipes 14 and 15 are connected to thesupply pipe 12 and has asociated with them a suitable valve 13 to control the admission of steam to the aging apparatus. The pipe 12 communicates with a pipe 14 (see Fig. 2) which in turn connects with a vertical pipe 15 shownmore clearly in Fig. 1. 4From the vertical pipe 15 two horizontal branch pipes 16 and 17 extend as shown in Fig. 2. The pipe 16 has connected thereto the valves 18 and 19 which are adapted to stop the How of steam therethrough. An automatic regulating valve 2O is also provided in the pipe 16 to reduce the pressure of the steam flowing through the pipe 16 to any desirable pressure below the pressure of the steam supply from the main pipe 12. And this valve is made inoperative by the valves 1S and 19. The pipe 17 is connected to pipe 16 beyond the val-ve 19, thus constituting a b v-pass. A valve 21 is inserted/in the pipe 17 and it will be readily understood that by closing the valves 18 or 19 in the pipe 16 and opening the valve 21 inv the pipe 17,

cates with a horizontal pipe 23 connected to f a mixing chamber 24, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 2. Referring now to Fig. 8 itV will.

be seen that the pipe 23 is provided with a T 25 having a reducing plug 26 screwed into one opening. Water is supplied to the interior of the mixing chamber 24 through the pipe 27 which is connected to the T 25 through the reducing plug 26, as shown more clearly in Fig. 8. A- valve 28 in the pipe line 27 controls the admissionl of water to the mixing chamber 24. In the mixing chamber 24 the steam flowing through the pipe 23 and the water flowing through the pipe 27 arecaused to be thoroughly mixed, and by proper manipulation of the steam and water control valves described above, steam of proper pressure, temperature and water content can be prepared for use in the ager as specifiedA above in this specification. The mixing chamber so I 24 is provided with a suitable safety valve t 29 to prevent the pressure of the steam chamber 24 rising beyondsafe limits.

From the mixing chamber 24 the steam Hows through an outlet pipe 30 which communicates with the branch pipes 31 extending across the width of the ager and slightly beyond. The branch pipes 31 communicate -with vertical pipes 32 which are connected at their lower endswith the steam manifolds 33 extending along the length of the lower portion of the ager as shown in Fi 3. From the manifolds 33 the steam flows through pipes 34 which extend into the ager and are perforated as shown. The arrangement of the perforated pipes 34 is clearly indicated in Fig. 2. It will be observed from Fig. 1 that the screen 10, being positioned between the perforated pipes 34 and the lower series of rolls 8 prevents water spattering on the goods being treated. Pipes 33 are provided with valves 35 for controlling the supply of steam to the manifolds 33.

Steam is supplied to the steam plates l7 located at the top of the ager through the pipe 36 which connects with a lhorizontal manifold 37 extending along one side of the ager as shown in Fig. 3. From the manifold 37 pipes 38 convey steam to the interior of the steam plates'. with the interior of the steam plates 7 and lead into a horizontal manifold 4()L through which the exhaust steam and moisture from the steam` plates iow.

i A temperature recording device 41 may be associated with the outlet pipe 30from the mixing chamber 24 so that a permanent record of the temperature of the steam supphed The drains 39 communicateYV scribed apparatus, one feature of our inven 19 tion comprises a correct selection and control of the source of steam as to quantity and quality, particularly' as vregards temperature and moisture in the main portion of the ager.

This is usually-'accomplished by the use of 15 steam, which is comparatively wet, that is,

steam from which some of the normal heat content has been abstracted either by radiation, or by adding/water to steam whose 'pressure has been reduced, as above described,

or by other similar means.

Further improvements in the process and apparatus for aging will now be described.

Referring again to Fig. lof the drawings, it will be seen that the first three pairs of the upper rolls 8 and two pairs of the lower rolls 8 are separated so as to provide wider spaces between the runs of the fabric, than are provided between `the subsequent rolls toward the right-hand end of the ager. This sepao ration ofthe rolls results in two advantages.

In the first place, the spaces above the horizontal runs of the fabric which pass between the lower rolls allow a rapid circulation of the steam vapors. in thespaces between the 5 upper rolls so that they may be easily withdrawn by the suction of the fan; and secondly, the space below the runs passing between the upper rolls allows the introduction of aprons which have been referred to above.

These aprons are preferably constructed in the following manner. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, it will be seen that there is, a rectangular casing 43, preferably made of wiremesh screen material such as copper, brass or 45 other suitable` metal. This is supported onl suitable. metallic frames 44, and dis closed at the ends and top. A pipe passes through the upper portion of this casing, which pipe is preferably slotted at its upper side as indicated at 46. f This pipe is supplied with water from t e main water supply. pipe 47, and in the pip connections are valves 48 for controlling the How of water.

The pipe 45 has suitable supports 49 on the walls of the casing l, and since the said pipe passes through holes in the casing 43, the casing is thereby supported in a vertical positon. Collars `50 are placed upon thepipe 45 C5 1 to prevent the casing 43 from sliding longitudinally thereon and are preferably attached to said casing by soldering or otherwise. The

casing 43 is preferably composed of 3 or 4 i layers of wire mesh so as to more effectively C5 equalizeV and distribute the flow of moist vapors therethrough', las will hereinafter be more fully described.

The left hand manifold 33 (Fig. 3) vhas a series of nipples which connect with valves i and 60, the ends of which are closed as indivcated in Figs. 3 and 5, and each of which are provided with series of perforations or holes, through which the steam may escape. These holes are preferably more-numerous in the upper branches 60, less numerous in the branches 59 and still'less numerous in the branches 58. These pipes, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4,'are located between the two sides of the wire mesh apron or casing 43, and are preferablyall adjacent` to or above the center of the casing and directly beneath the pipe 45. The valves-51 are provided for the purpose of controlling the flow of steam to the pipes 53, and the branches 58, 59 and- 60 connected herewith.

,It should be noted Ithat there are three.

sets of casings 43, and each has a corresponding steam supply pipe located betweenthe sides thereof and a. water pipe 45 located at the top thereof. Obviously, thel number of these pipes and casings may be varied according to the requirements of a particular ager designed for a particular or special use. In an ager in which three or more aprons are provided, any number of them may be placed 1n operation or may be made inactive as desired according towhether or not-the steam land water are admitted thereto.

The operation of this portion'ofthe ager will now be described: J

Assuming that the a er has been started, and the material atmosp ere thereof generally provided with vthe'necessary amount of steam vapor through the steam supply pipes at the bottom of the ager, the passage of the fabric -th/rough the opening 3 and over the rolls 8 and 8', as indicated in Fig. 1, will cause the conversion of the dyes to start immediately, upon coming in contact vvith the warm moist vapors of the ager. This conversion, owing to the physical and chemical reactions, which take place within theager, produces a considerable amount of excess heat, as has been explained in the prior patents above mentioned. This `production of excess heat occurs at times with almost explosive force in the forward part of the ager soon after the cloth enters the'same, and at this point,

the neutralization, absorption and dissipation of the heat is required to a greater extent. This is the reason that the special means in the form of aprons and wider spaces between the runs above described have been provided'.

The flow of water through the pipes 4T and allows the water to escape through the slot 46 at the top of the pipe 45, and it accordingly runs or trickles downward over the sides of the pipe in a greater or less volume, according to the adjustment of the valve 4S. The steam pipes 33. 53. 54. 58, 59 and G0 supply steam, preferablyy of comparatively low pressure and of the required moisture content to the space between the sides of the casing or apron 43, and thereby produces a continuous fiow of vapors outward through the sides of the casing or aprons.

The water, which, has above been referred t-o as iowing downward from the pipes 45, will therefore come in contact with the steam escaping through the holes in the pipes 58. 59 and 60, and will cause vapor-ization of the latter, which action will still further increase the saturation or water content of such steam vapors.

Ordinarily the temperature of the water so introduced to the pipe 45 is of comparatively low order, that is, little if any above atmospheric temperature. but obviously it may be raised to a higher point, if deemed advisable under'certain conditions. The mixture of steam and water thus produced affords when necessary, avery wet or moist steam, and a very completely saturated vapor at low pressure. It is therefore much cooler than steam that could be introduced by. al-

lowing it to expand entirely outside of the ager. The action of this moist steam between the sides of the apron'for casing lis an expansive one, and therefore tends td 4pass through the mesh of the wire screen, until it reaches the fabric or at leastreaches the vicinity lof anysuperheated vapors which n may be produced on account of thechemical and physical reactions occurring within the fabric and dyes. y f

If it be necessary to use a more dry or high pressure steam than that. supplied through the manifoldsBS, then the valves 5l may be closed and the valves 55 opened. This. will allow live steam from the manifold 57 to pass into the pipes 53, 54, 58, 59 and 60. Yater from the pipes may be allowed to mix with such steam if its temperature and drvness be too great for the aging required adjacent the aprons 43. I If not the water may be cut 0E. l

It will be thus appreciated that the means and method for supplying at will more or less dry vapors or very highly saturated vapors :directly to the points where they are most active, enables the neutralization, absorption, and dissipation of the excess heat produced to take place very efliciently and accurately in accordance with the amount of temperature and moisture required.

It will also be appreciated that byreason of the control of the water supply, and of the steam supply through a manipulation of the valves 48, 51 and 56. both the water and the steam can be controlled to a nicety, thereby enabling the temperature to be fixed in any desired point, that may b e necessary for a particular kind of. goods being treated, and this temperature may be set substantially at any point between 212 0r 213 and235 or 240 Fahrenheit, and may be maintained at such point the'period of run of the ager, independently of the variations in theconditions which have ordinarily existed in the commonly used agers.

The apparatus thus provided is therefore extremely flexible and capable of being manipulated at will to produce the best rcsubstantially `continuously during e sults. This has been determined by actual practical operation of an agcr, provided with the apparatus herein described, and it has been found to be eminently superior to any other form of aging device or any process heretofore devised for that purpose.

rl`his process and apparatus has been found to practically solve the problem of the accurate control and maintenance of definite temperatures within an ager, and has enabled results to be obtained in processes of aging both in the depth of color and economy of dyesthat were never before accomplished or thought possible. Having thus described this form of our invention, what we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

, 1. The process of agingfabrichavingthereon vat color prints or dyes, which comprises,

producing by adjustmentof the flow of the incoming steam and the moisture within the ager, an atmosphere of steam vapors at the lnecessary minimum temperature and required moisture content at successive points in the progress of the aging action, respectively, whereby there results a substantially uniform and complete reductionan'd absorption of the dyes upon and within 'the fibres of the fabric to conserve the dyes and produce maximum color values. l

2. The process of aging fabric having thereonl vat color prints or dyes, which' comprises, producing incoming steam and the moisture within the ager, an atmosphere of steamvapors at the necessary low temperatures and high moisture contents respectively at successive points in the'progress of the aging action, respectively,

whereby there results a'substantiallyV uniform and complete reduction and absorption of the dyes upon and within the fibres of the fabric by adjustment of the fiow of the v to conservethe dyes and produce maximum color values. e

3. The process of aging fabric lia-ving there- .necessary temperature and moisture content at successive points in the progress ofthe aging action and continuously maintaining such temperatures and moisture characteristics for a correct period of time at saidpoints respectively, whereby there results a substantially uniform and complete reductionand absorption of the dyes upon and within the fibres of the fabric to conserve the dyes and produce maximum color values.

4. The process of aging fabric having thereon. color prints or dyes, which comprises,

providinga supply of steam at'a convenient Y.

temperature and pressure, producing by adjustment of the flow and moisture content of the incoming steam, lan atmosphere of steam vapors at the necessary low temperatures and high moisture contents at successive points respectively in the progress of the aging action, and continuously maintaining such temperatures and moisture characteristics for va correct period of time at said points respectively, whereby there results a substantially uniform and complete reduction and absorption of the dyes upon'and within the fibres of the fabric to conserve the dyes and produce maximum color values.

5. The process of aging fabric having thereon vat color prints or dyes, which comprises,

producing by adjustment of the How and moisture content of the incoming steam, an atmosphere of steam vapors at the necessary low temperatures and high moisture contents at successive points in the progress of the aging action, introducing additional moisture in fluid form, with the incoming steam at points where the reactions are greater, maintaining the steam vapors throughout the process. at low pressure and temperature and adjusting the steps of the process and the speed of travel of the fabric through said atmosphere so that the periods of time after the initial reductions of the dyes during which the. said vapors act shall'correspond to and substantially dissipate the discharge of heat developed by the reactions, and accommodate he time required for absorption of the reduc ddeuco bases by the fibres of the fabric, whereby there results a substantially uniform and complete reduction and absorption of the dyes upon and within the fibres of the fabric'to conserve the dyes 'and produce maximum color values.

6. In the process of aging vat color printed \or dyed fabric, the step which comprisesV applying vapors of a vaporable fluid and `positively injecting and controlling the same and the required degree of moisture atpredetermined points during the treatment of the fabricto absorband dissipate the excess heat generated adjacent said points.

7. In the process of agingvat color printed o r dyed fabric, the steps which comprise applying steam from anl external source there'- of, positively injecting and controlling the same at portions of the fabric being treated where excess heatis generated, and maintaining said steam at the desired degreeof temperature and (moisture, by supplying at said portions, moisture in additionto the moisture carried by the steam, to absorb and dissipate the .excess heat generated adjacent such points.

8. In the process of aging vat color printed or dyed fabric, the step which comprises establishing a flow of steam from an external source thereof, injecting the same at points v,

directly between adjacentruns of the fabric, and causing the same to combine with water at such points to determine the degree of moisture therein, thereby'absorbing and dissipating the excess heat generated adjacent such points.

9. In the process of aging vat color printed or dyed fabric, the steps which comprise applying steam from an external source` thereof directly between adjacent runs of fabric at points where excess heat is generated, and maintaining said steam at the desired degree of temperature and moisture to "absorb and dissipate the excess heat generated at such points.

10. In the process of aging vat color printed or dyed fabric, `the steps which comprise establishing a flow of steam from an external source thereof, applying the same directly between adjacent runs of the fabric at points where excess heat is generated, and supplying water at said points to maintain and control the temperature and degree of moisture of said stea 11. In the process of aging vat color printed or dyed fabric, the steps which comprise establishing a flow of steam from an external source thereof, to cause currents thereof directly betweeny adjacent runs of the fabric at points where excess heat is generated, maintaining said steam at the desired degree of temperature and moisture to absorb and dissipate thev heat generated at such points `and removing said vapors and the absorbed heat contained therein from the vicinity of the fabric by causing positive and rapid circulation of said vapors.

12. In. the process of aging vat color printed or dyed fabric, the steps which comprise establishing a flow of steam from an external source thereof, to cause currents thereof directly between adjacent runs of the fabric at points where excess heat is genervapors at such points than elsewhere, to dissipate said excess heat.

13. In the process; `of aging vat color p directly .between adjacent runs o printed or dyed fabric, the steps which comprise establishing a ow of steam from an external source thereof, to cause currents thereof directly between adjacent runs of the fabric at points where excess heat is generated, maintaining said steam at the desired degree of temperature and moisture, distributing said steam evenly over the adjacent of the fabric to absorb and dissipate the heat generated at such points, and removing said vapors and the absorbed heat contained therein from the vicinity of the fabric by positive circulation of said vapors. I

15. In the process of aging vat color printed or aged fabric, the steps which comprise establishing a iow of steam from an external source thereof, injectin the same f the fabric at points where excess Aheat is generated, maintaining said steam at the desired degree of temperature and moisture by the addition of Water at such points causing an even distribution of the mixture of said steam and the water contained therein over the surfaces of the adjacent fabric, and removing said vapors `and the absorbed heat contained therein from the vicinity of the fabric by causing positive circulation of said vapors.

In witness whereof we have signed this specification thillst day of May, 1930.

WARD S. CHAPIN. ARELI H. JACOBY. 

